SOFIENE Zaaboub today outlined how much he is relishing life at Walsall after finally getting a sustained run in the first team.

Chris Hutchings’ appointment as manager has galvanised the Frenchman who was left languishing in the reserves for months by Jimmy Mullen.

After joining the Saddlers last summer, Zaaboub played the first four games but was substituted in the last three of those.

After being subbed early in the second half at Crewe on August 23, the winger was still waiting for his next league start when Mullen was sacked on January 10.

But Hutchings had no hesitation in selecting Zaaboub. And the 26-year-old has responded by becoming the Saddlers’ most creative force in recent games.

In the last four games he has teed up Troy Deeney for the winner at home to Leeds and the opening goal at Hartlepool last Saturday and forced the penalty which Michael Ricketts converted to earn a point at Carlisle on Tuesday.

Next in Zaaboub’s sights are Colchester at The Banks’s Stadium on Saturday.

And the winger, confidence rebooted after months wondering why he wasn’t getting a look-in, can’t wait for each game to arrive.

“You are always happy when you have got the full confidence of the manager and you are always trying hard to help him and your team-mates,” Zaaboub said.

“Things were not very good for me under the previous manager. Training is all very well but it is all about playing games. I wasn’t much involved for ages, I don’t really know why, and that was hard.

“But then there was a change and I got my chance again and I have really enjoyed coming back in. I feel fit and after quite a long time without playing in the first team the more I play the stronger I will get.

“Before I came back in my last game had been in November and that was only one cup match so I had a lot of hard work to do in training to catch up in terms of fitness.

“I like to play fast and direct and with pace. I like to beat my defender and get the ball in the box.

‘‘So I need to be very fit and I am getting there now. I am very happy to get my chance and, with every game, more confidence comes.”